Good as Gold

Swoonworthy!

First we had the Shipleys. Then along came the Rossis. And now we also have the Giltmakers! The World of True North is the gift that keeps on giving. Sarina Bowen has done it again, and I am never leaving.

Good as Gold is a standalone set in the World of True North. If you’re familiar with the True North series you will recognize many of the characters, but it can definitely be read without having read any other book in the series.

It is no secret I love the True North Series. I love everything about it. The characters, the settings, the Vermonty-ness, and of course, Sarina Bowen’s writing. I love her sense of humor and her ability to tell a story. And Good as Gold is exactly that: Gold.

Matteo Rossi left Vermont 14 years ago and never looked back. When he found out the girl of his dreams was definitely out of reach, dating his best friend, he decided to stay gone. He was broken-hearted but determined to make his own path. And he succeeded. Until his brother’s wedding gave him the opportunity to come back home. He decided he’d stayed away for far too long and he needed to make amends with his family.

Leila Giltmaker is single again. It took her a long time to come to the conclusion that her marriage was over. She is determined to take control of her own life and do what she wants to do with it. And that happens to be becoming a mother. Matteo Rossi’s sudden reappearance in Vermont shakes her to her core, making old feelings resurface. And one shot of tequila too many gives voice to her best and wildest idea: ask Matteo to be the father of her child.

I loved Matteo and Leila as people. And I loved the setup and their backstories, and how things evolved between them. They were best friends who had crushes on each other as teenagers but never said anything. So there’s a lot of longing and bottled-up lust waiting to be unleashed. It’s actually an exquisite exercise in building up to the explosion.

And the baby project turns out to be pretty fun. Matteo ends up staying in Vermont the whole summer, working as a bartender in the Gin Mill and managing a beer wagon for his uncle and Leila’s father. It’s really endearing to see them reconnect as friends and their initial approach to their project and how it changes without them even realizing it.

Then again, a summer is just a summer, and Matteo has a life and a business to run in Aspen. But one taste of the Vermont life he left behind plus the possibility of a future with the love of his life might have him reconsidering his life choices and fight for what he really wants.

There’s a lot of feelings in this book. There’s grief, there’s guilt, there’s longing, and there’s also love. There’s lots of laughter and so much heat. I love these books because they’re well balanced. They tug at my heartstrings—sometimes more forcefully than others—and make me feel, but in the best of ways. Good as Gold left me feeling happy and craving more. So much more. I can’t wait for more Giltmaker shenanigans.